New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1887-05-18
for the vacation, about our relations

to each other.
There was, IN q most painful
position, in that marrow box, peeping
through the ribs Of the French lady,
not daring to breath for fear Of rat.
thing her bones and being discovered;
but / WASH t a bit tired then. Pro-
lessor Charles rested his hand on the
back of a bench and looked down at.
her quietly.
!" We'll, LOU, he said, what
have you to say to me about
our relations to each other I
have felt for some time that YOU
did not love me-that our engage
ment was becoming irksome to you.
but ! deemed it best for the sake OF
your example to these girls over whom
you have SO deep an influence, that
you should not break it until I had
left Bradford
" Charles, she cried, putting out
her hand, please sit down by me-. T
llke4you SO, as-as a friend, Have
you,read so much OF my mind? Be
lleve me-, / have tried to feel as I
"'How ought you to feel, Lou? said
the professor, with a smile just curl
ing his lips.
"SI know ought to love you bet
ter than all the world beside; that I
ought to watch and wait and long for
your coming, to remember and dream
over Your every word, toto love
you,'
"Instead of which said the pro-
lessor, cody.
1 care no more for you than 1 do
Tor that skeleton!' Lou burst out, in
desperation. She pointed strait to
my eyes, which were leveled at them
from below madame's right elbow
joint, for I had begun to get tired, and
lop little. You may as well know
it all, she went on; the fact that we
are tied together by the approval OF
the older teachers and the directors,
who think it most appropriate ar
rangement, has made me almost hate
you at times. But it is not Professor
Charles, as a friend, I dislike; it is as
a. lover
''The professor had blushed clear to
his eyes at Louis harsh remarks, but,
COMPRISING his lips as he does when
curbing his temper flor I believe he
has bit OF his own), he said, still in
the same quiet tone: You used not
to feel SO strongly against me as a.
lover, Lou. Have I been obnoxious
in any way, or has your fancy chang
ed?'
IF you will believe it, Lou COM
menced to cry. Professor Charles sat
down close by her side, and taking her
hands from her eyes, dried her tears
with his own handkerchief, and said:
Lou, [ do not mean to be harsh
with you, although you have been
somewhat emphatic with me. Listen.
| am fully content to be your friend
your brother. But am sure you have
difficulties before you greater than the
dlscardlng of an uncongenial lover. Is
there not one who has taught you to
know SO well what love is? I knew
you never felt it for me, but thought
we might be happy in mutual esteem,
and that respect might grow into a.
tenderer feeling; but | see the fallacy
OF that now. Is there one for which
you really care? Ifso, I gladly release
you; but lido not ask from mere curios-
ity. You will need my friendly Offices
to curb the expressions Of displeasure
that will assail you; you will meet
strong opposition from all your
friends who are kind enough to like
me. Is it.
"He whispered name in her ear.
Lou blushed crimson, bending down
her head for an instant; then raising
her eyes, she looked proudly at him.
Yes; it is George Lee; the grocer man!
He is not handsome, not distinguish
ed-plain of speech and devoted to
business. The very antipodes OF a
professor of ancient and modern liter
allure and language! He cannot read
a word OF Greek, frets not his soul
with evolution or questions in theol-
ogy, but love him! You and have
literary taste and artistic ambition
In common-but [ love him. You are
handsome, cultured, the beau ideal OF
all my friends and associates OF a hus-
band for me; he is joyous, hopeful,
generous, devoted to me, and l love
hinn!"
Chow her eyes shone as she spoke!
Professor Charles regarded her with a
quizzical expression, and added, as
she paused: And Lou, the fact that
he has made a small fortune in his
wholesale store, on account of which
you call him a grocer, and that he
owns a cosy home and drives pretty
turnout, does not hurt him a bit, and
may in time stand off with your friends
against my distinguished appearance
and supposable culture. Professor
Charles actually laughed-Lou seemed
surprised at him, as I am sure [ was.
You knowI have received the appoint
ment to Harvard | was so desirous
of, hecontinued: tAnd-Lou, believe
Iought to make q confession to you.
| should never have allowed the
thought to come into being but for
your refusal OF me for a husband.
am beginning to feel a stronger affec-
ton for young girl than my engage
nent to you would have in honor per-
mitted. It is no more than fair to
tell you this, Lou, but it is so unlikely
that I shall ever win the heart sof, a \